'Pool survive monsoon in comfortable Thai win

15 July 2015 03:00 AM

WHILE Raheem Sterling put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Manchester City, his former club Liverpool braved monsoon conditions to run out comfortable 4-0 winners over the Thai All Stars at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium.

The first game of the Reds' tour of Far East and Australia ended in farcical conditions after torrential rain throughout the second half made the pitch close to unplayable.

However, Brendan Rodgers' side were far too strong for the hosts, who were totally outclassed and fortunate not to lose by a much greater margin.

The Liverpool boss played a different XI in each half and saw striker Divock Origi (right), who spent last season on loan at Lille, score on his debut for the club.

Goals from Lazar Markovic and Mamadou Sakho put the Reds in control before the interval and then Adam Lallana made it 3-0 before Origi had the final word.

Rodgers' first half line up included summer signings Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez.

Talented youngsters Joao Carlos Teixeira and Jordan Rossiter returned to action after injuries curtailed the previous campaign for them.

At the interval the heavens opened and a monsoon quickly descended on the Rajamangala Stadium.

As supporters dashed for cover, both sets of players struggled to keep their footing as the rain continued to lash down.

Rodgers made 11 changes with Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner and Origi all pulling on a Liverpool shirt for the first time.

Seven minutes into the second half the Reds made it 3-0. Lallana latched on to Jordan Henderson's pass and found the bottom corner with a sweet drive.

Despite the horrendous conditions, Origi showed flashes of the talent that convinced Rodgers he was worth £10million a year ago.

In the dying minutes, the young Belgian frontman rose highest from seven yards out to head home a Jordan Henderson corner.